July, 1997
Table of Contents
Air Rules Go to Congress
Local EffectsIssue Updates1. Local Pollution is SignificantHealth Effects
2. New Sources Built Yearly
3. Population is Growing
4. Highway Expansions
Sad but True Quotes
What You Can Do
Write a “Letter to the Editor” to your local newspapers.
Water Links
Piggy-back Toxics
Great Lakes Not Protected
We’re Number 1 for Hormone Disrupting Chemicals
Mercury Worse Than We Thought
Kidney IslandIn the Aftermath of Wisconsin’s Nuke Power Gap
Recycling
Neenah Incinerator
Personal ResponsibilityBicycle and Pedestrian Alert
New Power Plant Proposed
What You Can DoRoad Builders Buy Influence
Oil Company Admits Climate Change
Haz Waste Exemption for Mining
DNR Defends MiningDoor To Door Organizing
Important Public Hearing
Volunteers Needed!Cancer is Increasing
Air Rules Go to Congress
Thanks to an outpouring of citizen support from across the country, the Clinton Administration endorsed EPA’s proposed stricter air quality standards for ozone and particulate matter --- despite a $40 million lobbying campaign by industries opposed to the changes.
Now the rules must go to Congress for final approval. As expected, industry lobbyists are already hard at work trying to convince Senators and Congressmen to block the healthier standards.
These rules are important here in Northeast Wisconsin because our area is on the edge of violating the new standards -- or over the mark already.
In 1995, Brown County and Outagamie County each violated the new ozone standard 5 times, and Winnebago County at least 4 times.
All the eastern counties (Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Kewaunee and Door) have
had violations, as air pollution from Milwaukee and Chicago blows north
along the Lake Michigan shoreline and cooks in the summer heat.
Gov. Thompson and his DNR object to restrictions and penalties along
Lake Michigan, claiming that it’s mostly Chicago’s fault. In fact, Thompson
has lobbied heavily against the new EPA standards.
But the reality is that Wisconsin creates many of its own problems:
1. Local Pollution is Significant
Huge air pollution sources exist in the industrial and urban Fox River Valley. In 1990, DNR estimated that large air polluters in Brown County released 17,836 tons, Outagamie County released 14,335 tons, and Winnebago County released 9,428 tons of ozone precursors.
2. New Sources Built Yearly
New industries start up each year, and others expand in Northeast Wisconsin.
Often these industries will not install adequate air. For example, several
large sludge incinerators are planned in the Fox Valley which will add
serious amounts of air pollution.
Each year, the 1,000 ton/day Minergy incinerator in Neenah, would release
460 tons of nitrogen oxides, 77 tons of volatile organic compounds, and
243 tons of carbon monoxide. And each year, the 250 ton/day Fort Howard
incinerator in Green Bay would release 65 tons of nitrogen oxides, 1,752
tons of volatile organic compounds, and 15 tons of carbon monoxide.
The total of 2,853 tons would equal 143 dump truck loads of ozone-creating
pollution each year from just these two sources.
Up to now, DNR has not planned to require scrubbers on their stacks,
but these new standards could give us all some relief.
In addition, DNR has admitted that they don’t look at the cumulative
effects of several industrial sources in one area, but stricter ozone and
particulate standards would force them to.
If growth continues at current rates, Brown County’s population is projected to double in 45 years. Other Northeast Wisconsin communities are also expanding.
All these new people will increase problems with ozone and particulate pollution unless we take the problem seriously and work now to prevent the causes.
The new standards are a valuable wake-up call to local land-use, transportation and energy planners. (Brown County planners told us they did not consider the upcoming ozone rules as they developed the county’s new comprehensive land-use or transportation plans.)
Wisconsin should be investing in passenger rail, intercity vans and buses, city transit systems, bike and pedestrian improvements, and more efficient and compact land-use development patterns --- to reduce Traffic congestion and air pollution.
Unfortunately, Gov. Thompson and the Legislature have pushed for massive highway expansions and reduced support for alternatives. (See related article on campaign contributions.)
These new air pollution standards will force them to rethink their cars-only strategy.
In addition, automobile manufacturers can and need to improve their efficiency and air pollution averages.
Despite ridiculous TV advertising, we can’t all drive our cars and trucks in pristine wilderness areas where exhaust simply blows away across wide open prairie. We’re stranded while we’re sucking fumes in traffic jams behind trucks and buses belching black diesel smoke, downtown next to several industrial polluters. That’s the reality for many of us.
Tens of millions of Americans breathe unhealthy air. Two of the most dangerous and common air pollutants --- ozone smog and fine particle soot --- have been shown to trigger asthma attacks and other acute respiratory illnesses.
Industry lobbyists have tried to make the new particulate standard sound
silly, because it controls tiny, invisible particles which seem insignificant.
But health researchers have been calling for fine particle limits for over
a decade --- because these tiny specks are the most likely to penetrate
deeply into every corner of our lungs.
In fact, most air pollution controls target the wrong stuff --- they
catch primarily the big particles which are easily expelled from our throats
and lungs. The tiny particles often escape pollution controls, so they
pose an even greater threat.
More than 3,000 studies conducted world-wide show that the health benefits of the new standards are real --- each year, in addition to 15,000 fewer premature deaths, the new protections mean 9,000 fewer hospital admissions, 60,000 fewer cases of chronic bronchitis, 250,000 fewer cases of aggravated coughing and painful breathing in children, and 250,000 fewer cases of aggravated asthma in children and adults.
New health data show a correlation between air pollution and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in American cities. Infants living in Chicago and other cities with high levels of fine particle pollution were 46% more likely to die of SIDS (from USEPA and Centers for Disease Control).
Roughly 1 out of 20 children has asthma. Among children ages 6 to 11, the prevalence of asthma increased 58% from 1970 to 1980. Death rates increased 31% between 1980 and 1987, while the biggest increase in deaths occurred among children between the ages of 5 and 15. In inner cities, asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization among this age group.
The tougher standards are supported by the American Lung Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility, League of Women Voters, United Steelworkers of America, the State Public Interest Research Groups, and hundreds of other national, regional, state and local groups.
EPA estimates that for every dollar spent on air pollution control we will net more than $45 in environmental and human health benefits. The new standards will save between $51 and $112 billion each year in medical costs, worker productivity and fewer sick days. (And more kids in school instead of the hospital.)
EPA estimates the standards will cost $6.5 to 8.5 billion annually.
Research shows that plants and agricultural crops are much more sensitive than previously believed, raising concerns about economic damages to crops.
“The effects of ozone are not that serious ... What we’re talking about is a temporary loss in lung function of 20-30 percent. That’s not really a health effect.”
Richard Klimisch, V.P. at American Automobile Manufacturer’s Association, quoted in the Washington Post, 11/27/96.
“People can protect themselves. They can avoid jogging. Asthmatic kids need not go out and ride their bicycles.”
Oil Industry Lobbyist, quoted in the National Journal, 1/4/97
Write a brief letter TODAY to your federal officials and tell them what you think about the proposed new standards to control ozone and particulate air pollution:
Senator Russ Feingold
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Herb Kohl
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Congressman Jay Johnson or
Thomas Petri
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Write a “Letter to the Editor” to your local newspapers.
Remember --- Lawmakers are under intense pressure from industry lobbyists --- they need to hear from everyday citizens. Please let them know how air pollution and these standards affect you and your family.
You might ask why our Clean Water group gets involved in AIR issues.
It may seem a stretch until you look at the big impact toxic air fallout
has on water quality. What goes up, comes down in stormwater run-off, snow-melt,
and direct rain on lakes and streams.
Toxics which fallout in low concentrations then accumulate and build-up
in fish, birds, domestic livestock, and humans.
A side benefit of the new air standards should be reduced toxic accumulation
on land and in the water, even though the toxics aren’t targeted directly
for control.
Fine particle air pollution isn’t just “dust.” It’s often created in
combustion or industrial processes which result in contamination coating
the outside of dust particles.
Compared to a pound of coarse particles, a pound of fine particles also
has a much greater surface area for attaching toxic chemicals like dioxin,
mercury or lead. So a pound of fine particles can carry a much higher concentration
of toxics into our lungs and waterways.
We found this concentration factor to be true when examining data from
the test burn for the Fort Howard sludge incinerator.
Unfortunately, EPA hasn’t done everything right as far as the Clean
Air Act goes.
The agency was recently sued because it had not followed through on
the 1990 law requirements to develop specific air toxics standards adequate
to protect the Great Lakes and sensitive coastal waters like Chesapeake
Bay.
Unfortunately, EPA still refuses to set these standards, preferring
instead to increase monitoring and promote voluntary actions by industries
and power plants.
While particle controls will help, we still need direct standards to
control concentrated sources.
We’re Number 1 for Hormone Disrupting Chemicals
The Environmental Information Center recently reported that the Great
Lakes region ranks number one in the release of endocrine (hormone) disrupting
chemicals such as PCBs, number one in carcinogens such as benzene, and
number two in reproductive toxins such as lead, relative to other U.S.
regions.
To make matters worse, with more than 70 percent of all reported releases
nationwide going into the air, the Great Lakes region has become a final
resting place for many toxins generated elsewhere.
In particular, circulating weather patterns often swirl polluted air
up from the oil refineries and chemical plants of the Gulf Coast and industrial
Mississippi region. When the clouds hit our cooler Great Lakes air, the
pollutants drop out with the rain.
A draft 1,700 page report from the EPA suggests that mercury is even
more of a threat to public health than previously thought, the agency confirmed
this week (while putting off the report’s release to the end of the year.)
A draft copy says 85,000 American women are exposed to levels of mercury
that could affect brain development of their unborn children.
Meanwhile, coal-fired electric power plants complained over being named
as a principal source that needs further smokestack controls.
Combine this threat with the known high frequency of lead poisoning
in our society, which also affects childrens’ brain development, and recent
evidence that PCB contamination reduces intelligence in children of fish-eating
mothers. It looks like we’re creating large numbers of brain-damaged children
who will inherit this world.
What are we doing? Are we too brain-damaged to address this?
Sometimes we just have to hurry up and wait:
The judge could rule any day on our Contested Case Hearing challenging the expansion of this toxic sludge dump offshore from Bay Beach Amusement Park. in Green Bay.
Clean Water Action Council organized a press conference at Brown County’s
new Materials Recycling Center last week to call public attention to the
legislative attack on Wisconsin’s recycling program. Brown County’s Solid
Waste Director Chuck Larsheid was present to answer questions about the
local impacts, and overall the news coverage was pretty strong.
At this time, the issue is still an unresolved part of the legislative
Budget debate in Madison, and it’s not too late for citizens to contact
their legislators. It may not be settled for another week.
It’s shocking to think that our state’s outstanding recycling program
could be destroyed with one month’s effort without any public hearing
opportunity and little awareness of the seriousness of the attack.
This law was extremely popular in 1990 when it passed after numerous
public hearings across the state, and thousands of citizens attended, testified
and wrote letters in support.
We joined with local citizens in challenging the 1,000 ton per day Minergy
sludge incinerator in downtown Neenah.
Our legal appeal is still in the hands of the judge, and we’re waiting
for a decision. It could be any time now.
In the Aftermath of Wisconsin’s Nuke Power Gap
by Kim Bowker, Energy Chair
N.E. Wis. Environmental Network
The oil crisis of the 1970’s doesn’t seem so far away this summer with
the looming threat of power blackouts being thrown around. When all three
Wisconsin nuclear plants and some Illinois nukes were non-operational due
to a combination of technical difficulties and mis-management, the utilities
were shaking in their boots with a hot summer predicted.
The utilities have spent too much time and so many resources working
on issues like deregulation and mega-mergers that they have left their
customers out in the cold (or the hot in this case) and have let their
long range planning and conservation programs slide.
The utilities have offered some perfunctory tips for how we can all
chip in to save power but they only deal with small amounts of power in
the short term. The conservation programs that used to make this
state enviable are disappearing quickly as utilities position themselves
to be competitive in a deregulated market.
With the nuclear plants back on-line or soon to be so, our worries
are not over. It is unacceptable to wait until power blackouts are
imminent to tell rate payers that if air conditioners are kept below 65
degrees it will all go away.
Personal Responsibility
True energy conservation is not only about turning off the lights when
you leave the room. It is about purchasing energy efficient appliances,
insulating and situating a home so that it can withstand or even take advantage
of seasonal weather conditions. It can also be about small efforts like
installing compact fluorescent light bulbs in your home, getting rid of
all your “phantom loads” i.e. answering machines that plug into the wall
with one of those black “power cubes” or stereos with clocks that are on
all the time.
The Solar Lobby calculates that if every home in the U.S. installed
just 4 compact fluorescent light bulbs, as much energy as is produced by
the nation’s six largest nuclear power plants would be saved. A recent
analysis of two almost identical homes showed that the home with compact
fluorescents, an energy efficient refrigerator and power strips to turn
their stereo (even the clock) all the way off used half the electricity
of the home that hadn’t made those three small adjustments.
Energy efficient appliances or construction often require a higher
up front investment that will pay for itself over a period of time.
If we want our utilities to participate in long range planning by investing
in conservation programs and renewable energy, then we should be doing
the same in our own homes.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing on the application for construction of the Polsky Power Plant in Ashwaubenon (near Green Bay) will be held:
Tuesday, July 22
9:00 a.m.
and again at 7:00 p.m.
at the Holiday Inn
2580 S. Ashland Avenue
Green Bay
If approved, the plant will be constructed in two phases, eventually
yielding a 435 megawatt combined cycle natural gas fired turbine co-generation
facility supplying power to the Nicolet Paper Company and selling excess
electricity back to Wisconsin Public Service (WPS). (For comparison’s sake,
the coal-fired Pulliam Power Plant at the mouth of the Fox River produces
about 260 megawatts.)
After much discussion by our Board of Directors, we decided that Clean
Water Action Council should support the construction of this new facility.
Several other energy advocacy groups in Wisconsin are also supporting the
project.
During the Advanced Plan process in 1992, the PSC identified a need
for more electric generating capacity in Wisconsin. This plant would help
Wisconsin reach that goal with the cleanest fossil fuel available using
the most energy efficient process. More power being generated by natural
gas means less power being generated by coal and nuclear power.
Although the eventual goal is a highly efficient electric system with
a mix of locally generated renewable energy technologies, natural gas co-generation
facilities are a good interim step.
WPS is struggling under the weight of the aging Kewaunee Nuclear Plant
as it becomes more problematic and more expensive to maintain. There may
be a positive relationship between the construction of the De Pere power
plant and the permanent shut down of the Kewaunee plant, reducing concerns
about nuclear waste or accidents.
The nuclear plant desperately needs a new $100 million steam generator
to continue to operate beyond 1999. Building the Polsky power plant will
provide northeast Wisconsin with a positive energy reserve through 2006
even if the Kewaunee plant is forced to shut down by 1999.
We are at a cross road in deciding Wisconsin’s energy future. We need
to tell the PSC that it is time to trade in our expensive, dirty, and mismanaged
nuclear and coal plants for cleaner, more efficient, and safer power plants
for the next century. We also need a stronger push for conservation programs
and investments in renewable energy sources like the sun and wind power.
Up to Top
Bicycle and Pedestrian Alert
In 1991, President Bush signed into law a transportation reform called
ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) that for the first
time provided money to build bicycle paths, pedestrian ways, and clean
air projects through a dedicated fund called “Transportation Enhancements.”
This fund was used to rescue the Hiawatha, the Amtrak line between Milwaukee
and Chicago.
In 1995, at the reported suggestion of the Wisconsin DOT, the state
legislature transferred most of these money to the state highway program.
Unfortunately, the legislature is poised to do the same thing again
this year with its 1997-1999 biennial state transportation budget.
Thus, even if citizens succeed in Congress in saving ISTEA “Enhancements”
it may all be in vain if citizens don’t raise the issue here at home.
And its important to note that Gov. Thompson and his Wisconsin Department
of Transportation are now leading the charge in the U.S. Congress to cut
dedicated funding for these programs. It’s distressing to know that he’s
representing Wisconsin citizens on this issue without asking us whether
we support his position.
Bicycle and pedestrian projects are not frills. They are key elements
in our community strategies to boost economic development, improve the
quality of our lives, conserve energy, protect the environment, ensure
the safety of our children, and reduce auto-dependency and urban sprawl.
Write to your state and federal elected representatives and tell them what you think about transportation enhancements and alternatives:
Senator Russ Feingold
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Herb Kohl
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Congressman Jay Johnson or
Thomas Petri
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
State Senator
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
State Rep. (Last Name, A thru L)
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
State Rep. (Last Name, Mc thru Z)
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
(If you don’t know who your elected state representatives are, call the Legislative Hotline 1-800-362-9472 on weekdays.)
$134,461 Paves the Way
Contributions from road building interests to Wisconsin legislative
candidates totalled more than $134,000 during 1995 and 1996, making them
one of the top players in the political influence game in this state. Very
little of the money was given to the donor’s own representatives. Instead,
the money was focussed on candidates they could not vote for, but who were
in positions of influence and leadership.
Party leaders of both major parties received roughly equivalent donations,
but the overall pattern shows that road builders gave twice as much to
regular Republicans as to regular Democrats.
Over the past decade, Governor Tommy Thompson has received over $350,000
in donations from road builders for his re-election campaigns.
“This is a perfect example of why we need to get big money out of Wisconsin
politics.” stated Gail Shea, of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
(of which Clean Water Action Council is a member). “The public has right
to expect unbiased public policy decisions. When private interests use
campaign contributions in their efforts to influence public policy, the
public interest is left by the wayside.”
Is it any wonder that the Legislature and Governor have supported
a huge, environmentally disastrous highway expansion program funded with
large amounts of borrowed money, while skimping on funds needed for mass
transit, rail service, bike and pedestrian programs, and existing road
and bridge repair?
In fact, Gov. Thompson’s Department of Transportation spent more
than $3.5 million on a “public participation effort” a few years ago designed
to brainwash the public into believing new highways were the only way to
go.
Oil Company Admits Climate Change
British Petroleum chief executive John Browne, in a speech May 19 at Stanford, said “there is now an effective consensus among the world’s leading scientific community that there is a discernable human influence on the climate ... it would be unwise and potentially dangerous to ignore the mounting concern.” His prescription: Solar power. “Our aim is to extend the reach” of solar technology, he said, noting that BP has a 10% share of the world market and sells solar tech in 16 countries. “Solar will make a contribution to the resolution of the problem of carbon dioxide and the increase in temperature.
Haz Waste Exemption for Mining
DNR will soon hold public hearings on proposed changes to Wisconsin’s
Hazardous Waste Management Codes (NR 600-685).
Unfortunately, the proposal doesn’t include closing loopholes for mining.
Wisconsin law currently exempts “metallic mining wastes resulting from
a mining operation as defined in s. 144.81(5), Stats.” from the haz waste
code.
Worse yet, due to this loophole, there is no provision for testing
the wastes to determine whether or not they are defined as hazardous under
current criteria.
In addition, legislators have asked DNR to review whether mining loopholes
in Wisconsin’s groundwater rules are appropriate, but if DNR lacks the
right to test mine wastes for their chemical concentrations, how can DNR
evaluate groundwater impacts?
And finally, the mining companies propose to dump mine wastes back
into the hole after the mining is done. They would mix the mine wastes
with other materials or other solid wastes, which could result in hazardous
wastes being dumped in an abandoned mine not designed with controls ordinarily
required for hazardous wastes.
This means that future supplies of drinking and spring water from underground
water supplies could become badly contaminated over time as acid or hazardous
chemicals seep into the fractured bedrock surrounding the mine shaft.
During mining, water must be constantly pumped out of the shaft, but
afterwards the water will be allowed to fill up the hole again, putting
the mine wastes in direct contact with underground aquifers.
The mining companies and DNR like to claim that Wisconsin has “the
best” mining regulations, but the truth is that our laws are as fractured
and contaminated as our northwoods will be if sulfide mining operations
are allowed.
DNR Defends Mining
Last month many local citizens attended a DNR “informational meeting”
to update the public on their draft “Environmental Impact Statement” to
be completed March 28, 1998, for EXXON and Rio Algom’s Crandon Mine.
It was an uncomfortable session, because Gov. Thompson’s DNR provided
at least six DNR staff people, but no one from the mining company
spoke or answered questions (though they attended). Of course, the company
didn’t have to say anything, because DNR did their work for them.
The whole session clearly was a Gov. Thompson effort to defend the
mining company and reassure the public that adequate precautions are being
taken --- an inappropriate and offensive activity for DNR, which is supposed
to be impartial on the facts and predisposed to protect our environment.
We didn’t create DNR to defend an operation which will unavoidably cause
major environmental damage even if everything goes well. There’s no way
to avoid destroying large areas of forest, wetlands, and lakes to make
this project possible, even if they can control acid mine drainage. (Unfortunately,
DNR staff working on this project are funded by fees charged to the company
--- which means that their jobs depend on EXXON’s mine going forward. Not
a good situation.)
Every time citizens raised a concern, Gov. Thompson’s DNR staff immediately
dismissed or even ridiculed their concerns with “experts” on hand for every
point.
Yet, when the question period started it became clear that DNR is juggling
with unknowns. DNR also manipulated the meeting to require citizens to
write down all questions to hand in on cards, then DNR staff selected which
questions to ask. They arranged a meeting place which closes
early so they could conveniently run out of time before answering dozens
of the most difficult questions.
We’re awfully tired of these Thompson and DNR games.
Many of their projections are based on computer models and data provided
by the mining company.
Anyone who has worked with computer models knows that simplistic mathematical
equations don’t fit well with the chaos of the natural world, especially
when trying to predict the movement of unknown toxic concentrations in
invisible underground water streams flowing through irregular underground
rock formations which no one can see or measure. These models are based
on (self-serving?) estimates and assumptions which could be seriously wrong.
Though DNR admits the studies are still incomplete, they’re already
trying to reassure us that the Wolf, Fox and Wisconsin Rivers are
not endangered.
This is the same agency which allowed the entire Fox River to become
a Superfund hazardous waste dump, and the same agency which has avoided
cleaning up the Fox River for so long that the Federal Government finally
had to step in to make things happen.
We need to wake-up and realize the DNR no longer serves the public
interest. The agency is now a “Service Center” (DNR’s term) for Gov.
Thompson’s polluting friends and contributors, who DNR now refers to as
“Clients.”
Please attend this hearing and speak out about the hazardous waste exemption for mining.
Thursday, July 24
11:00 a.m.
Green Bay City Hall, Room 310
100 Jefferson Street
If you can’t attend, please write a brief letter by August 8, expressing your views to:
Mr. Al Matano
Bureau of Waste Management
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Jack Young, our new Organizing Director, has his hands full managing
a large group of great new people who have joined us as door-to-door organizers.
Summers are a busy time for the crew.
It’s really encouraging to have these enthusiastic workers out distributing
key information, and we’re very hopeful that the increase in public awareness
will make a big difference in coming years.
In preparation for opening a new office for Clean Water Action Council, we’re starting the search for additional furnishings. Can you help us with a donation of the following?
Office Space (With safe parking late evenings)
Phones
File Cabinets
Desks
Office Supplies Shelves
One-year Internet Hook-up
Please call (414) 468-4243 if you can help us! We can pick up
the donations if you like. All donations are tax-deductible.
We’d like to thank Ken and Sako Duellman for donating an answering machine, and Laverne Robbins for donating a desk and hanging lamp. We’re on our way!
Rummage Sale Cancelled
Due to scheduling and workload problems, we’ve decided not to hold
a rummage sale this summer. We have our hands full with issues work, start-up
for our door-to-door organizing, public hearings, and planning the office
move.
Sorry about this! If you’ve saved sale items for us please consider
donating them to a worthy charity, or store them in a corner for next summer.
We’re sure to be settled enough for a good sale then.
Thank you for understanding!
Sharp members noticed a little problem with our announcement of the Pedal, Paddle, Plod Triathlon this year. The correct date for the race is Saturday, September 20.
This is a really fun event to watch and participate in --- but we also
could use some help with timing, safety marshalls along the route,
food preparation and serving, T-shirts, and registration tables.
We generally need at least 30 volunteers altogether. If you can help,
please call us at 414-468-4243.
Contrary to recent reports, the overall incidence of cancer is still
increasing in the U.S., even though the deaths from some cancers are dropping.
Cancers are striking a larger proportion of Americans each year, yet surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation treatments are keeping more victims alive.
According to age-adjusted statistics from the National Cancer Institute,
covering the period 1950 to 1992, overall cancers have increased 54.3%
and the death rate has increased 9.6%. Lung cancer induced by cigarettes
dominates these statistics, but even if lung cancer is excluded, the incidence
of all cancers has still increased 40.8%, though the death rate declined
15%.
There are 11 kinds of cancer for which the news is all bad --- the incidence
is rising and so is the death rate. These 11 are: cancers of the ovaries,
lung, skin, female breast, prostate, kidney, liver, non-hodgkin’s lymphomas,
multiple myeloma, brain and pancreas.
There are also 8 cancers for which the news is mixed: incidence is
increasing while deaths are declining. These are the cancers more people
are having to learn to live with: cancers of the colon, larynx, testicles,
bladder,and thyroid, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemias, and all childhood cancers.
Only 4 types of cancer have both declined in incidence and in death
rates: cancers of the cervix, stomach, rectum, and uterus.
Among men, prostate cancers account for two-thirds of the incidence
increase during the past 20 years. Notable increases have also occurred
in non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and skin cancers.
Among women, major increases of the past 20 years occurred in cancers
of the breast and lung, followed by non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and skin cancers.
In general the rising incidence is dominated by increases at older
ages in breast, prostate, and lung.
Regarding breast cancer, NCI analysts point out that the biggest increases
occurred among estrogen-responsive tumors “suggesting that some changes
are related to hormonal factors.”
Prostate cancer is another cancer influenced by hormones.
So long as we continue to bathe ourselves in carcinogens and chemicals
which mimic hormones (like PCBs and dioxin) in our air, water, and food,
and in chemicals that degrade our immune systems, more of us each passing
year will have to learn to live with cancer, if we survive at all.
Numerous studies have shown that environmental factors, food, drink,
sunbathing, and smoking are far more important than genetic factors in
causing cancer --- where our habits are contaminated, the cancer risks
increase.
The three most common local types of cancer at Brown County hospitals
are breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer, according to the Green
Bay Press Gazette.
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